Continuously Raise the Level of Modernization of Social Governance

Social work is an important component of the work of the Party and the state, bearing on the long-term governance of the Party and the lasting peace and stability of the country, as well as social harmony and stability and the happiness and well-being of the people. General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized in an important instruction on social work that we must unswervingly follow the path of socialist governance with Chinese characteristics. The path of socialist governance with Chinese characteristics has been forged by the Communist Party of China uniting and leading the Chinese people, in the course of a magnificent historical process, by integrating the Marxist theory of social governance with China’s specific social governance practices and with the governance ideas in the excellent traditional Chinese culture. On the new journey to continuously raise the level of modernization of social governance, it is necessary to deeply grasp the scientific connotations and practical requirements of the socialist governance path with Chinese characteristics.

社会工作是党和国家工作的重要组成部分，事关党长期执政和国家长治久安，事关社会和谐稳定和人民幸福安康。习近平总书记在对社会工作作出的重要指示中强调，坚定不移走中国特色社会主义社会治理之路。中国特色社会主义社会治理之路是中国共产党团结带领中国人民，在波澜壮阔的历史进程中，把马克思主义社会治理理论同中国具体社会治理实践相结合、同中华优秀传统文化中的治理思想相结合而开拓形成的。新征程上不断提升社会治理现代化水平，必须深刻把握中国特色社会主义社会治理之路的科学内涵和实践要求。

1. Modernization of social governance is an integral part of Chinese-path modernization

1.社会治理现代化是中国式现代化的应有之义

Since the 18th National Congress of the CPC [1]1 The 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) was held in 2012, marking the beginning of the Xi Jinping era., the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core has vigorously promoted innovation in social work practice, theory, and institutions. The advantages and effectiveness of socialist governance with Chinese characteristics have become increasingly evident, ushering in a new phase of “China’s governance” [2]2 “China’s governance” (zhōngguó zhī zhì) is a term used to describe the effectiveness and superiority of China’s governance system.. Currently, China’s social structure is undergoing profound changes, especially the rapid development of emerging fields. New economic organizations, new social organizations, and new employment groups [3]3 These terms refer to organizations and groups in emerging economic and social sectors, such as private enterprises, social associations, and workers in new forms of employment (e.g., gig workers). are emerging in large numbers, and the size of new employment groups continues to expand. Social work faces new situations and new tasks. Unswervingly following the socialist governance path with Chinese characteristics and promoting high-quality development of social work in the New Era are of great significance for advancing Chinese-path modernization.

党的十八大以来，以习近平同志为核心的党中央大力推进社会工作实践创新、理论创新、制度创新，中国特色社会主义社会治理的优势和效能日益彰显，开创了“中国之治”新局面。当前，我国社会结构正在发生深刻变化，尤其是新兴领域迅速发展，新经济组织、新社会组织大量涌现，新就业群体规模持续扩大，社会工作面临新形势新任务。坚定不移走中国特色社会主义社会治理之路，推动新时代社会工作高质量发展，对于推进中国式现代化意义重大。

Satisfy the people’s needs for a better life and a better society. Entering the New Era, as the principal contradiction in society has changed, the people have higher expectations for a better life and put forward higher requirements for social governance. Overall, the current level of socialization, law-based governance, smart governance, and professionalization of China’s social governance has greatly improved; the people live and work in peace and contentment, society is stable and orderly, and people’s sense of security and satisfaction continue to strengthen. However, it must also be recognized that with the advent of the information age, people’s production and life, ways of thinking, and modes of interaction have profoundly changed, and social concepts, social psychology, and social behavior have undergone profound changes. The situation and environment, as well as key variables, facing social governance have become more complex. Only by adhering to the people-centered development philosophy and advancing social governance with higher standards can we better meet the people’s multi-level, diverse, and differentiated needs for a better life and a better society.

满足人民群众对美好生活、美好社会的需要。进入新时代，随着社会主要矛盾的变化，人民群众对美好生活有了更高期望，对社会治理提出更高要求。总体上看，当前我国社会治理社会化、法治化、智能化、专业化水平大幅提升，人民安居乐业、社会安定有序，人们的安全感和满意度不断增强。但也要看到，随着信息时代的到来，人们的生产生活、思维方式、交往方式深刻改变，社会观念、社会心理、社会行为发生深刻变化，社会治理面临的形势环境、关键变量更趋复杂。只有坚持以人民为中心的发展思想，以更高标准推进社会治理，才能更好满足人民群众对美好生活、美好社会的多层次、多样化、差异化需要。

Create a more stable social environment for high-quality development. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: “Looking at the governance practices of various countries, if social governance cannot keep pace with economic development, and various social contradictions and problems cannot be effectively resolved, not only will economic development be unsustainable, but the whole society may also fall into turmoil.” Development is the key to solving all problems in contemporary China and holds a fundamental and decisive position and role; security is the prerequisite and basic guarantee for development. Without national security and social stability, prosperity, development, and peaceful life cannot be discussed. Currently, changes unseen in a century are accelerating, the world has entered a new period of turbulence and transformation, and China’s reform, development, and stability face many deep-seated contradictions. Only by continuously raising the level of modernization of social governance and building a safer China [4]4 “Safe China” (píng’ān Zhōngguó) is a national initiative to enhance public safety and social stability. at a higher level can we create a more stable social environment for promoting high-quality development.

为高质量发展创造更加稳定的社会环境。习近平总书记指出：“纵观各国治理实践，如果社会治理跟不上经济发展步伐，各种社会矛盾和问题得不到有效解决，不仅经济发展难以为继，整个社会也可能陷入动荡。”发展是解决当代中国所有问题的关键，具有基础性、根本性地位和作用；安全是发展的前提条件和基本保障，没有国家安全、社会稳定，繁荣发展、安居乐业便无从谈起。当前，百年变局加速演进，世界进入新的动荡变革期，我国改革发展稳定面临不少深层次矛盾。只有不断提升社会治理现代化水平，建设更高水平的平安中国，才能为推动高质量发展创造更加稳定的社会环境。

Advance the modernization of the national governance system and governance capacity. Modernization of the national governance system and governance capacity is an important guarantee for a country’s modernization, and social governance is an important component of national governance. Entering the New Era, our Party, in the practice of strengthening and improving social governance, has continuously improved the social governance system featuring Party committee leadership, government responsibility, democratic consultation, social coordination, public participation, legal guarantees, and technological support, established a social governance pattern of joint contribution, co-governance, and shared benefits [5]5 “Joint contribution, co-governance, and shared benefits” (gòngjiàn gòngzhì gòngxiǎng) is a principle for social governance in China.. This system emphasizes that all entities are participants, contributors, and beneficiaries of governance, while also emphasizing the pluralistic interaction and effective coordination among different entities to enhance the sense of responsibility and mission of participation. Looking ahead, it is necessary to further consolidate governance synergy and lay a solid foundation for advancing the modernization of the national governance system and governance capacity.

推进国家治理体系和治理能力现代化。国家治理体系和治理能力现代化是一个国家现代化的重要保证，而社会治理是国家治理的重要组成部分。进入新时代，我们党在加强和改进社会治理的实践中，不断完善党委领导、政府负责、民主协商、社会协同、公众参与、法治保障、科技支撑的社会治理体系，打造共建共治共享的社会治理格局，既强调各主体都是治理的参与者、贡献者、享有者，又强调不同主体之间的多元互动、有效协同，以提高各主体参与的责任感、使命感。面向未来，需要进一步凝聚治理合力，为推进国家治理体系和治理能力现代化奠定坚实基础。

2. Continuously deepen the understanding of the laws of social governance

2.不断深化对社会治理的规律性认识

On the new journey to raise the level of modernization of social governance, it is necessary to adhere to systematic thinking and dialectical thinking, further deepen the understanding of the laws of social governance, and carry out high-quality social governance on the basis of coordinating the following important relationships.

新征程上提升社会治理现代化水平，需要坚持系统观念、辩证思维，进一步深化对社会治理的规律性认识，在统筹把握以下几对重要关系的基础上高质量开展社会治理。

The relationship between Party leadership and pluralistic participation. Upholding the leadership of the Communist Party of China is the fundamental reason why socialist governance with Chinese characteristics differs from Western social governance. By exerting the leadership core role of Party organizations in social governance, it is conducive to better penetrating the grassroots, connecting with the masses, understanding needs, and discovering problems, and also helps to maximize the mobilization of resources from all sides to jointly respond to the challenges and problems facing social governance. At the same time, a large number of social organizations and economic organizations are active in various fields of economic and social development. They are important forces in social governance and also an important foundation for the Party to carry out mass work at the grassroots level. To improve the level of social governance, it is necessary to adhere to the leadership of the Party, give full play to the role of mass organizations [6]6 Mass organizations (qúntuán zǔzhī) refer to people’s organizations such as trade unions, women’s federations, and youth leagues. and social organizations, give play to the self-discipline function of industry associations and chambers of commerce, and achieve benign interaction between government governance, social regulation, and resident autonomy.

党的领导与多元参与的关系。坚持中国共产党的领导，是中国特色社会主义社会治理不同于西方社会治理的根本所在。通过发挥党组织在社会治理中的领导核心作用，有利于更好深入基层、联系群众、了解需求、发现问题，也有助于最大限度调动各方面资源力量共同应对社会治理面临的挑战和问题。同时，大量社会组织、经济组织活跃在经济社会发展各领域，它们是社会治理的重要力量，也是党在基层开展群众工作的重要基础。提升社会治理水平，必须坚持在党的领导下，充分发挥群团组织和社会组织作用，发挥行业协会商会自律功能，实现政府治理和社会调节、居民自治良性互动。

The relationship between different levels. In social governance, different levels such as the central, municipal, and grassroots bear different functions. The central level is responsible for the top-level design and overall promotion of social governance, ensuring that social governance in all fields and regions is coordinated and forms synergy. Urban and rural grassroots are the foundation of social governance, responsible for the specific implementation of the “last mile” of social governance matters, and are the very end of social governance and the frontline of serving the masses. The municipal level is the intermediate link connecting the upper and lower levels, an important hub linking macro governance and micro governance. Strengthening municipal social governance has an important supporting role in implementing the decisions and deployments of the Party Central Committee and promoting grassroots social governance. Only by achieving collaborative interaction among different levels can the level of modernization of social governance be effectively improved.

不同层级之间的关系。在社会治理中，中央、市域和基层等不同层级分别承担不同功能。中央负责社会治理的顶层设计和整体推动，使各领域、各地区社会治理步调一致、形成合力。城乡基层是社会治理的基础，负责社会治理事项“最后一公里”的具体落实，是社会治理的最末端和服务群众的最前沿。市域是承上启下的中间环节，是连接宏观治理和微观治理的重要枢纽。强化市域社会治理，对于贯彻党中央决策部署、推动基层社会治理，具有重要支撑作用。只有实现不同层级的协同互动，才能有效提升社会治理现代化水平。

The balance between order and vitality. Social governance is a science. If it is managed too tightly and becomes a pool of stagnant water, that won’t do; if it is managed too loosely, with turbulent waves, that also won’t do. Only when society is stable and orderly do the people have a sense of security. Good social order is an important prerequisite for maintaining social stability and promoting economic development. Strong social vitality is a basic element necessary for a country and a nation to achieve modernization. By using scientific management methods, sound guarantee mechanisms, and fair participation systems, fully mobilizing the initiative, enthusiasm, and creativity of multiple subjects participating in social governance, we can better release the vitality of economic governance and gather momentum for social development. Carrying out high-level social governance should establish dialectical thinking, properly handle the relationship between vitality and order, effectively prevent and resolve social risks, and at the same time provide support for social innovation and development, achieving a dynamic balance that is orderly without chaos, alive and orderly.

秩序与活力的平衡关系。社会治理是一门科学，管得太死，一潭死水不行；管得太松，波涛汹涌也不行。社会安定有序，人民才有安全感。良好的社会秩序是维护社会稳定、促进经济发展的重要前提。强大的社会活力是一个国家和民族实现现代化必备的基本要素。以科学的管理方法、健全的保障机制、公平的参与制度，充分调动多元主体参与社会治理的积极性、主动性和创造性，能够更好地释放经济治理活力、汇聚社会发展动力。高水平开展社会治理应树立辩证思维，处理好活力和秩序的关系，既有效防范和化解社会风险，又为社会创新发展提供支持，实现活而不乱、活跃有序的动态平衡。

The synergistic relationship between rule of law, rule of virtue, and self-governance. Rule of law is an important guarantee for social governance. It can adjust social relations, resolve conflicts, maintain good social order, and ensure social fairness and justice. Rule of virtue has an educational function and is an important supplement to rule of law. The virtues and customs that have been formed and passed down in Chinese history are valuable resources and basic norms for our social governance today. Self-governance plays a unique role in social governance. By improving social self-governance and promoting self-management, self-service, self-education, and self-supervision of grassroots people, it helps to stimulate the vitality of grassroots governance. Only by achieving the organic unity and coordinated promotion of rule of law, rule of virtue, and self-governance under the leadership of the Party can we help realize good governance.

法治、德治与自治的协同关系。法治是社会治理的重要保障，能够通过调整社会关系、解决矛盾冲突，维护社会良好秩序，确保社会公平正义。德治具有教化作用，是法治的重要补充，中国历史上形成并流传至今的美德、风俗等，是我们今天开展社会治理的宝贵资源和基本规范。自治在社会治理中发挥着独特作用，通过完善社会自治，推动基层群众自我管理、自我服务、自我教育、自我监督，有助于激发基层治理活力。只有在党的领导下实现法治、德治和自治的有机统一、协同推进，才能助力善治的实现。

3. Follow the socialist governance path with Chinese characteristics

3.走中国特色社会主义社会治理之路

The current and coming period is a critical period for comprehensively advancing the building of a strong country and the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation through Chinese-path modernization, and also a period in which strategic opportunities coexist with risks and challenges, and uncertain and unpredictable factors increase. On the new journey, facing various external risks and tests, and facing the profound changes in our country’s economy and society, we must unswervingly follow the socialist governance path with Chinese characteristics, and provide strong support for the long-term governance and stability of the country with a higher level of social governance.

当前和今后一个时期，是以中国式现代化全面推进强国建设、民族复兴伟业的关键时期，也是战略机遇和风险挑战并存、不确定难预料因素增多的时期。新征程上，面对各种外部风险和考验，面对我国经济社会深刻变革，我们要坚定不移走中国特色社会主义社会治理之路，以更高水平社会治理为国家长治久安提供有力支撑。

Adhere to the overall leadership of the Party. To follow the socialist governance path with Chinese characteristics, it is necessary to adhere to the Party’s leadership core role of overall planning and coordinating all parties. Strengthen Party building in emerging fields, strengthen overall coordination, adhere to classified guidance, focus on strengthening Party building in new economic organizations, new social organizations, and new employment groups, and continuously enhance the Party’s appeal, cohesion, and influence in emerging fields. Strengthen organizational leadership and overall coordination, promote the formation of a work pattern combining unified and separate responsibilities with synergy and efficiency, strengthen the coordination of the Party committee’s social work departments with departments such as organization, propaganda, political and legal affairs, civil affairs, agriculture and rural affairs, and ensure that the decisions and deployments of the Party Central Committee on social work are implemented.

坚持党的全面领导。走中国特色社会主义社会治理之路，必须坚持党总揽全局、协调各方的领导核心作用。加强新兴领域党的建设，加强统筹协调，坚持分类指导，突出抓好新经济组织、新社会组织、新就业群体党的建设，不断增强党在新兴领域的号召力凝聚力影响力。加强组织领导和统筹协调，推动形成统分结合、协同高效的工作格局，加强党委社会工作部门同组织、宣传、政法和民政、农业农村等部门的工作协同，确保将党中央关于社会工作的决策部署落到实处。

Adhere to a people-centered approach. Social governance is complex and multifaceted, grassroots situations are ever-changing, and the needs of the masses show diverse and differentiated characteristics. We should take the mass line of the Party in the New Era, uphold and develop the “Fengqiao Experience” [7]7 The “Fengqiao Experience” (fēngqiáo jīngyàn) originated in Zhejiang Province in the 1960s as a model for resolving contradictions at the grassroots level through mass participation and has been continuously developed. in the New Era, apply the “Four Down-to-Earth” [8]8 The “Four Down-to-Earth” work method (sì xià jīcéng) requires officials to go down to the grassroots for propaganda, research, reception of petitioners, and on-site problem-solving. work method and system, deeply carry out leading cadres’ reception of petitioners and visits to the grassroots, promptly resolve conflicts and disputes at the grassroots and in the bud, and effectively protect the legitimate rights and interests of the masses. Do a good job of collecting people’s suggestions, effectively absorb public opinion, gather public wisdom, broaden the channels for the masses to participate in social governance, better respond to public concerns, and safeguard public interests. Improve the grassroots governance platform with grid management, fine services, and information technology support, improve the urban and rural community governance system, provide high-quality services and fine management at the doorstep of the masses, and make the people’s sense of gain, happiness, and security more substantial, more guaranteed, and more sustainable.

坚持以人民为中心。社会治理千头万绪，基层情况千变万化，人民群众的需求呈现出多元化和差异性特征。应走好新时代党的群众路线，坚持和发展新时代“枫桥经验”，运用“四下基层”工作方法和制度，深入开展领导干部接访下访，及时把矛盾纠纷化解在基层和萌芽状态，切实维护人民群众合法权益。做好人民建议征集工作，切实吸纳民意、汇集民智，拓宽人民群众参与社会治理的途径，更好回应群众关切、维护群众利益。完善网格化管理、精细化服务、信息化支撑的基层治理平台，健全城乡社区治理体系，为人民群众提供家门口的优质服务和精细管理，使人民群众的获得感幸福感安全感更加充实、更有保障、更可持续。

Adhere to taking the improvement of systems and mechanisms as the main line. Strengthen the building of grassroots political power, improve the coordination mechanism for Party building leading grassroots governance, and continuously enhance the effectiveness of grassroots governance. Improve the long-term mechanism for reducing burdens at the grassroots, coordinate the empowerment and burden reduction for grassroots, and continuously rectify formalism [9]9 Formalism (xíngshì zhǔyì) is a target of CPC anti-corruption and work style campaigns, referring to prioritizing form over substance.. Improve the working mechanism for building professional social work talent teams, further strengthen the policy and institutional construction of key links such as training, evaluation, employment, and incentives for professional social workers, and continuously improve the effectiveness of professional social work services. Improve the volunteer service system and work system, vigorously promote the volunteer spirit, so that more people willing to serve society have the opportunity to participate in social governance, and jointly create a better life.

坚持以健全体制机制为主线。加强基层政权建设，健全党建引领基层治理协调机制，不断提升基层治理效能。健全为基层减负长效机制，统筹推进为基层赋能和减负，持续整治形式主义。健全社会工作专业人才队伍建设工作机制，进一步加强社会工作专业人才培养、评价、使用、激励等重点环节的政策制度建设，不断提升社会工作专业服务成效。完善志愿服务制度和工作体系，大力弘扬志愿精神，让更多愿意服务社会的人有机会参与社会治理，共同创造更加美好的生活。

Adhere to a systematic approach. Social governance is a complex task and a systematic project. Emphasizing systematicity, integrity, and synergy is an inherent requirement for advancing socialist governance with Chinese characteristics. In practice, with the continuous improvement of economic and social development, the correlation and interaction between various fields and links of social governance have also significantly increased. Impediments or lags in any aspect will have a systematic negative impact on the effectiveness of social governance. We should adhere to a holistic view and systematic thinking, consciously plan, deploy, and promote social governance work within the overall work of the Party and the state and the overall situation of local economic and social development. We should strengthen forward-looking thinking, overall planning, strategic layout, and overall promotion of social governance work, play a “combination punch” of social governance, and form a strong synergy and lasting momentum for the joint promotion of socialist governance with Chinese characteristics in all fields, levels, and links.

坚持系统观念。社会治理是一项复杂任务、系统工程，注重系统性、整体性、协同性是推进中国特色社会主义社会治理的内在要求。实践中，随着经济社会发展水平不断提高，社会治理各个领域各个环节的关联性、互动性也明显增强，任何一个方面的阻碍和滞后都将对社会治理效果产生系统性负面影响。应坚持全局观念和系统思维，自觉将社会治理工作放在党和国家工作全局和各地经济社会发展大局中谋划部署推动。应加强对社会治理工作的前瞻性思考、全局性谋划、战略性布局、整体性推进，打好社会治理“组合拳”，形成各领域各层级各环节共同推进中国特色社会主义社会治理的强大合力和持久动力。

(Author: Hu Ming, Distinguished Researcher of the Beijing Research Center for Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, Professor at China University of Political Science and Law)

（作者：胡明，系北京市习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想研究中心特约研究员、中国政法大学教授）

Online Editor: Hui Hui

网络编辑：慧慧